2012 College Football: 2012 College Football Bowl Preview, Part 1

Ah, bowl season, where companies ruin the titles of rational sounding bowl games, teams that would never in their wildest dreams get to play against each other and we can complain about the BCS for one more glorious year.

Other than the BCS National Title Game, none of these games matter. But we watch them anyways because, what else is on? December basketball?

I will attempt to sell you on watching every single bowl game this year. College football is far from over, and (some of) these bowl games present some decently entertaining matchups.

I’m fine if Wizards vs. Kings in mid-December is more your style, but for the rest of us rational folk, here’s a rundown of the 2012-13 Bowl season.

Which RichRod team shows up? The team that beat USC 39-36, or got squashed by UCLA 66-10?

This game will be #MACtion without being in the MAC. Rich Rodriguez’s Wildcats score a lot and sometimes don’t feel like playing defense. This ain’t your Colin Kaepernick’s Boise State-upsetting Nevada Wolfpack, but it should be a close game anyways.

Utah State returns to Boise for a second year in a row, trying to avenge its 24-23 loss to Ohio University. This WAC vs. MAC matchup usually brings out the fireworks, and with Utah State’s quarterback ChuckieKeeton and running back Kerwynn Williams, this game should go down to the wire just like last year.

This isn’t basketball. At least I’m pretty sure it isn’t basketball. If it were basketball, this matchup would be very exciting. Two years ago. JimmerFredette, hello!

Hopefully BYU wears their blackout uniforms.

SDSU’s offense is solid, while BYU’s defense is ranked fifth in the nation in points against. The matchup seems even, but the main factor is SDSU beat Boise State (the benchmark for college football’s version of a mid-major) 21-19 at Boise, and BYU lost to Boise 7-6 at Boise.

So by the transitive property, San Diego State will win. Right?

Pick: Wrong, BYU.

Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl: Central Florida vs. Ball State

December 21, 8:00 pm ET (ESPN)

Ball State is in the MAC, UCF is not. David Letterman went to Ball State, Daniel Tosh went to UCF. Ball State is fun to watch. Has anyone outside of wherever UCF is actually seen the Golden Knights play? Also, UCF is facing some hefty sanctions so this might be the last time in a while you may get to watch it play.

Beef O’ Brady’s is an adequate restaurant. Makes me kind of want to go there. Is this the goal of their bowl sponsorship? Wings sound good…

“You are looking LIVE at Las Vegas” will be uttered by “Big Game Brent” Musburger, who’s on the call.

This is a rebuilding year for the Broncos, if you can call 10-2 “a rebuilding year.” This 7-5 Washington team has stars and two signature wins over top 10 teams, Stanford and Oregon State. Boise lost to the only ranked team it played all year in the opening week of the season at Michigan State.

Fresno State is 12th in the nation in points scored and 27th in points against. Who knew? The Bulldogs appear to be halfway decent, as far as MWC teams go.

I wasn’t born when SMU was relevant, but judging by the ESPN 30 for 30, the “Pony Excess” days would’ve been a sight to see. But at a dismal 6-6, Eric Dickerson isn’t walking through that door.

Seriously, SMU is in a bowl but Louisiana Tech isn’t?

Pick: Fresno State. SMU’s victory is the free trip to Hawai’i.

Little Caesars Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Central Michigan

December 26, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN)

Does Bobby Petrino make an appearance?

The WKUHilltoppers make their first bowl appearance ever this year and just made a splash by hiring disgraced former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino. Who knows if he’ll coach them in the bowl game, but the storyline itself is worth watching.

Also, Central Michigan is a MAC team, and by now you should realize how I feel about them. Something always happens if the MAC is involved.

Pick: WKUHilltoppers, and whatever the hell their mascot is, win.

Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman: San Jose State vs. Bowling Green

December 27, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN)

Now this is how you sponsor a bowl game. Keep the original title, and put your company’s name in the end of it. Solid.

Anyway, San Jose State only lost to Stanford by three and put together a very respectable 10-2 season.

Unfortunately, the Spartans may have 12 fans at the game. It’s being played in Washington, D.C. There aren’t too many legendary stories of the hoards of well-traveled SJSU Spartans. Step up your game Spartan Nation.

BGSU is a MAC team. Eight in the nation in points allowed…They unfortunately share colors with the Cleveland Browns. Don’t sleep on the Browns, I mean the Falcons.

Like San Diego State vs. BYU, this isn’t basketball, and we should all be disappointed.

Cincinnati had a fine season, but the Bearcats were recently jilted by their coach Butch Jones. Butch found greener pastures in Knoxville, Tennessee to coach the Volunteers. Cincinnati nabbed Tommy Tuberville from Texas Tech. He might make an appearance – try some onside kicks, go for it on fourth down a couple times, slap a few assistant coaches.

All of Cincy’s losses are justifiable – all to ranked teams and a good Toledo team. Cincinnati quarterback MunchieLegaux has one of the best/hilarious names in college football. He hasn’t lived up to his full potential but is exciting enough to justify watching.

Duke with a 6-6 record is just happy to be here. While it’s nice for the Blue Devils to play in a bowl game, they should really stick to basketball, or lacrosse.

Rutgers lost Greg Schiano last year to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the Scarlet Knights didn’t lose his players or his attitude. Their defense is serious and Virginia Tech continues to be the most perennially overrated team in college football.

Bigger question, should 6-6 teams play in bowl games? Shouldn’t you have at least a winning record?

Texas Tech lost Tuberville but won in the bowl draw. It’s in Texas and it’s against Minnesota. Texas Tech just hired its former quarterback, Johnny Manziel mentor and biggest hipster in college football, KliffKingsbury. Be afraid Minnesota, be very afraid.

There are seven B1G Ten teams in bowl games this year, and none of them are favored to win. They could go 0-7. Other than Ohio State, the conference was awful. Thank God Maryland and Rutgers are joining soon!

Remember when West Virginia was going to win the national championship and Geno Smith was the shoe-in for the Heisman trophy? That ended quickly.

The Mountaineers’ Geno Smith, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are still freakishly good on offense and can torch teams when they’re firing on all cylinders. This is Geno’s NFL Showcase game, so head coach Dana Holgorsen will be calling a “bombs away” offense.

Two decent defenses, Michigan State’s running back LeVeon Bell is entertaining. But at least it’s on at a time that warrants watching if you’re east of the Mississippi. This game isn’t worth staying up for those in the Eastern Time zone.

Dan Patrick is contractually obligated to be there through his show’s sponsorship deal with Buffalo Wild Wings, so there’s that.

Pick: TCU.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: North Carolina State vs. Vanderbilt

December 31, 12:00 pm ET (ESPN)

NC St. just got Dave Doeren from Northern Illinois, but who knows if he’ll coach in the bowl game. The coaching carousel is frustrating! Maybe he can turn Mike Glennon into Jordan Lynch in two weeks.

Vandy is sneaky good, so this game may actually amount to something. It’s also basically a home game for the Commodores.

Pick: Go ‘Dores.

Hyundai Sun Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. USC

December 31, 2:00 pm ET (CBS)

Over/under of Alabama references by Gary Danielson is 4.5. Leave your wagers in the comment section.

Being an unapologetic USC fan, being in this bowl game is almost bad as being ineligible. Maybe worse.

You're saying I have to play for Jacksonville?

This game gives us one last chance to see Monte Kiffin’s defense try to stop an offense that he has apparently never seen before.

One last chance to see 13 penalties committed by one team in one game.

One last chance for USC’s offensive linemen to “miss an assignment” during their 13th game of the season.

One last chance in 2012 to see Marqise Lee play Georgia Tech like he’s playing against eighth graders.

One last chance (*weeping*) to try and have Matt Barkley go out a winner, if he even plays.

This season needs to end, soon. Don’t make it worse on us, Kiffins. There’s always next year, I guess, but I’m not bitter.

Pick: USC, but probably 42-39.

AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Tulsa

December 31, 3:30 pm ET (ESPN)

Know what Tulsa spelled backwards is?

Pick: Tulsa

Chick Fil-A Bowl: LSU vs. Clemson

December 31 7:30 pm ET (ESPN)

Two 10-2 teams, well-traveled fanbases, similar styles of play. Should be fun but the “y’all cain’t hang with the SEC” adage will prove to be true, as usual.

Les Miles wins big games. Especially after last year’s BCS Title game “effort,” he has to make an example out of Clemson. Not to mention the Mad-Hatter just signed a massive contract extension with LSU. Coach for that money!

Pick: Bayou Bengals.

Whew, done. Those are all the pre-New Year’s Day bowl games. Part 2 coming soon.